Dolores Huerta at Brave New Films

Bonnie Raitt and Dolores Huerta -- This Brave Nation episode 2

2008-10-28T21:30:14Z

We're thrilled to bring you the second installment of This Brave Nation, our new online documentary series from Brave New Foundation and The Nation. This week, we're pairing legendary blues musician and activist Bonnie Raitt with iconic union organizer Dolores Huerta: two distinctly different feminists who hail from radically different backgrounds, but who have come together here because of their devotion to progressive change.

In this conversation, Raitt and Huerta talk about their passions, regrets, fears, and most of all, their dreams for future generations.

Watch the full episode online right now.

You don't want to miss a minute of this groundbreaking series, and with a $15 donation, you won't have to! You'll receive two DVDs featuring the first five episodes of This Brave Nation. Imagine what a great gift that could make to a local school, library, or an aspiring young activist that you know.

And speaking of which, we're still searching for your unsung local heroes. We've already received hundreds of nominations for the first ever Brave Nation Young Activist Award, honoring the most inspiring young activist in the country. Be sure to nominate your aspiring activist today!

Last week's premiere of This Brave Nation featuring Carl Pope and Van Jones was a smashing success, getting wonderful reviews from people like you that we just had to share:

"If I had seen these episodes in high-school I would have gone on to college actually believing I could make a difference."
- D.L., Los Angeles

"This Brave Nation should inspire a new wave of activists and revolutionaries. Hearing directly from those who began the movements that changed history makes the idea of creating social change accessible to all
of us."
- A.S., Denver

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The New Episode from This Brave Nation!

2008-06-05T20:30:12Z

My mother is a strong woman. She is someone who can demand attention and who can also take charge when shit happens. But she is also an incredibly caring woman who taught me how to be good and encouraged me to be independent and strong in my own way. I've always admired her and respected her. And as a result, I am inspired by others who have those characteristics, especially women.

So, when it was arranged that Bonnie Raitt and Dolores Huerta – two people who are the epitome of strong women – would appear together in This Brave Nation, I immediately called my mom to tell her. It just so happened Momma Sprinkle is a huge fan of Bonnie’s and always respected Dolores for her incredible work (while raising eleven children). And since we’re all continuously looking for parental approval, I was thrilled that my mom was thrilled.

Dolores Huerta was the co-founder of the United Farm Workers (with Cesar Chavez). She is a woman who stood up for thousands of migrant laborers and fought for years to help protect their families, all while creating a life for her own family that could certainly be described as “different.” Bonnie Raitt is, of course, the multi-platinum selling musician, but she is also a tireless crusader protecting the environment, as well looking after the lives of some of the talented musicians who mentored her.

This week’s This Brave Nation with Strong, Talented, Independent women. You won't want to miss it.

Go to bravenation.com to see the new episode, to get copies of This Brave Nation on DVD, and to nominate a young woman you know for the first ever Brave Nation Young Activist Award.

And call your mom. She'll appreciate it.

Bonnie Raitt on Her Early Influences

2008-11-19T04:53:23Z

Multi award winning singer song writer and activist Bonnie Raitt sits down with iconic union organizer Dolores Huerta in the latest installment of This Brave Nation

Watch the video

The New Episode from This Brave Nation!

2008-11-19T04:53:23Z

My mother is a strong woman. She is someone who can demand attention and who can also take charge when shit happens. But she is also an incredibly caring woman who taught me how to be good and encouraged me to be independent and strong in my own way. I've always admired and respected her. And as a result, I am inspired by others who have those characteristics, especially women.

So, when it was arranged that Bonnie Raitt and Dolores Huerta – two people who epitomize the notion of strong women – would appear together in This Brave Nation, I immediately called my mom to tell her. It just so happens Momma Sprinkle is a huge fan of Bonnie’s and always respected Dolores for her incredible work (while raising eleven children). And since we’re all continuously looking for parental approval, I was thrilled that my mom was thrilled.

Dolores Huerta was the co-founder of the United Farm Workers (with Cesar Chavez). She is a woman who stood up for thousands of migrant laborers and fought for years to help protect their families, all while creating a life for her own family that could certainly be described as “different.” Bonnie Raitt is, of course, the multi-platinum selling musician. But she is also a tireless crusader protecting the environment, as well as looking after the lives of some of the talented musicians who mentored her.

This week’s This Brave Nation with Strong, Talented, Independent women. You won't want to miss it. Go to bravenation.com to see the new episode, to get copies of This Brave Nation on DVD, and to nominate a young woman you know for the first ever Brave Nation Young Activist Award. And call your mom. She'll appreciate it.

Watch the video

This Brave Nation Heroes in the News

2008-10-20T09:29:40Z

The Sierra Club is one of the most influential environmental groups. So when the executive director of the organization – Carl Pope – talks about climate change and legislation surrounding it, others are inclined to listen. In an interview with Environmental Capital, Mr. Pope says his group wants “as close as we can get to” a 100% reduction; the leading proposal in Congress to cap greenhouse gases currently calls for closer to a 70% reduction. The plan is to wait until next year’s congress when there is likely to be more Democrats to lobby and it’ll be easier to sway than this year’s congress. Pope mentioned that because of the relatively positive environmental stance of the three presidential nominees, the Sierra Club may not endorse a presidential candidate this year - the first time since 1988.

In Modesto, CA this week, labor activist Dolores Huerta was present as 100 Girl Scouts were awarded the Dolores Huerta Interest Project patch – which bears Dolores’s image as well as her the well known coined phrase – “si se puede.” The patch curriculum is to help girls develop leadership skills and inspire them to do community service. Scouts had to learn about Huerta's life and work, as well as issues related to farmworkers, women and-or immigrants. Older scouts went through the process of what it takes to write a bill. They researched whatever topic they chose for their mock bill, learned about getting a sponsoring legislator, doing rewrites and other steps. To meet other requirements, girls conducted personal interviews with family -- typically grandparents who worked in the fields -- to gain perspective on the farmworker and immigrant experience.

See Carl Pope, Dolores Huerta and a host of other progressive activist and heroes in This Brave Nation, coming this summer.

Join us on MySpace or Facebook!

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This Brave Nation Heroes in the News

2008-04-25T15:57:43Z

The Sierra Club is one of the most influential environmental groups. So when the executive director of the organization – Carl Pope – talks about climate change and legislation surrounding it, others are inclined to listen. In an interview with Environmental Capital, Mr. Pope says his group wants “as close as we can get to” a 100% reduction; the leading proposal in Congress to cap greenhouse gases currently calls for closer to a 70% reduction. The plan is to wait until next year’s congress when there is likely to be more Democrats to lobby and it’ll be easier to sway than this year’s congress.
Pope mentioned that because of the relatively positive environmental stance of the three presidential nominees, the Sierra Club may not endorse a presidential candidate this year - the first time since 1988.

In Modesto, CA this week, labor activist Dolores Huerta was present as 100 Girl Scouts were awarded the Dolores Huerta Interest Project patch – which bears Dolores’ image as well as her the well known coined phrase – “si se puede”. The patch curriculum is to help girls develop leadership skills and inspire them to do community service. Scouts had to learn about Huerta's life and work, as well as issues related to farmworkers, women and-or immigrants. Older scouts went through the process of what it takes to write a bill. They researched whatever topic they chose for their mock bill, learned about getting a sponsoring legislator, doing rewrites and other steps. To meet other requirements, girls conducted personal interviews with family -- typically grandparents who worked in the fields -- to gain perspective on the farmworker and immigrant experience.

See Carl Pope, Dolores Huerta and a host of other progressive activist and heroes in This Brave Nation, coming this summer.

Visit youtube.com

This Brave Nation Heroes in the News

2008-04-25T15:50:17Z

The Sierra Club is one of the most influential environmental groups. So when the executive director of the organization – Carl Pope – talks about climate change and legislation surrounding it, others are inclined to listen. In an interview with Environmental Capital, Mr. Pope says his group wants “as close as we can get to” a 100% reduction; the leading proposal in Congress to cap greenhouse gases currently calls for closer to a 70% reduction. The plan is to wait until next year’s congress when there is likely to be more Democrats to lobby and it’ll be easier to sway than this year’s congress.
Pope mentioned that because of the relatively positive environmental stance of the three presidential nominees, the Sierra Club may not endorse a presidential candidate this year - the first time since 1988.

In Modesto, CA this week, labor activist Dolores Huerta was present as 100 Girl Scouts were awarded the Dolores Huerta Interest Project patch – which bears Dolores’ image as well as her the well known coined phrase – “si se puede”. The patch curriculum is to help girls develop leadership skills and inspire them to do community service. Scouts had to learn about Huerta's life and work, as well as issues related to farmworkers, women and-or immigrants. Older scouts went through the process of what it takes to write a bill. They researched whatever topic they chose for their mock bill, learned about getting a sponsoring legislator, doing rewrites and other steps. To meet other requirements, girls conducted personal interviews with family -- typically grandparents who worked in the fields -- to gain perspective on the farmworker and immigrant experience.

See Carl Pope, Dolores Huerta and a host of other progressive activist and heroes in This Brave Nation, coming this summer.

Visit myspacetv.com

UFW Co-Founder Dolores Huerta speaks at Cesar Chavez Walk 08

2008-11-19T04:49:48Z

UFW Co-Founder Dolores Huerta speaks at the Cesar Chavez Walk '08

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Obama's appropriation of other culture's phrases must stop!

2008-11-06T04:05:44Z

We all know Barack Obama’s rallying cry. “Yes, we can!” It has inspired millions.

What many American’s don’t know, however, is that Obama stole this slogan from Latinos. This has upset many Latino activists. Or at least one.

But the phrase many have attributed to Dolores Huerta, the farm union organizer, who coined the phrase “Si Se Puede,” used galvanize workers against things like low pay and undocumented immigrants, might actually have another source, according to expert cartoon people in my brain.

In truth, “Si Se Puede” translates as “it can be done,” which is not Obama’s message. Rather, with “Yes, we can” the Obama camp recklessly plagiarized from Bob the Builder.

That’s right.

Obama’s blatant disregard for the struggles of animated characters to be taken seriously, and to get credit for their work and thoughts, is just one more example of why animated characters should support Hillary Clinton, herself quietly aligned with the cartoon cause.

It is also an indication of a growing trend among celebrities to steal from animated beings. The most recent case of this outrage has been seen in the names chosen for their twin babies by Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. Max and Emmy? Think, people. Where have you seen this before? That’s right. The siblings from the PBS animated series "Dragon Tales" are named Max and Emmy. Coincidence? I think not.

What’s next, I ask you? Hillary Clinton answering critics with Popeye’s slogan, “I am what I am”? Ralph Nader, confronting the crisis in beef production, stealing from Bart Simpson: “Don’t have a cow, man.” Or, shudder, John McCain, borrowing from Charlie Brown for the new pro-war slogan, “Good Grief”?

Cartoon characters everywhere must unite against this despicable appropriation of cartoon culture by politicians bent upon manipulating their way into cartoon hearts. Before, before, why – before it’s too late...and we all take a wrong turn at Albuquerque.

Don’t laugh. You might think it can’t happen here. But you are wrong.

Yes, it can.

That's all, folks.

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Dolores Huerta in East LA

2008-11-19T04:39:51Z

EAST LOS ANGELES, CA - Civil and labor rights leader Dolores Huerta tells Jacob Soboroff of Why Tuesday? that "we cannot continue the type of electoral processes that we have right now." In 1962, with César Chávez, she co-founded the group that became the United Farm Workers. Huerta is today one of the most recognized labor leaders in the United States.

For more:
http://www.whytuesday.org

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This Brave Nation Trailer

2008-11-19T04:53:24Z

Sneak peak at the new documentary series from Brave New Foundation and The Nation coming out Spring 2008.

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